Ridley Conservation Park

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

Property summary: Total area 414 hectares – Hundred of Fisher, Section 144; Hundred of Ridley, Sections 479, 480 and 4831.

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

History: It was part of a Travelling Stock Reserve which ran for roughly 5-10 kilometres parallel to the River Murray. This reserve linked the stock market of Burra to the north with Murray Bridge to the south. In 1966 when land was being resumed and purchased for the purpose of national parks, the Land Board proposed that portions of the TSR “be retained and dedicated as a Wildlife Reserve under the control of the Commissioners of the National Parks and Wildlife Reserves at the expiration of the current Annual Licence”. First proclaimed as Ridley National Parks Reserve on 30 May 19682 and re-proclaimed on 27 April 1972 as Ridley Conservation Park3.

Habitat: The park covers a transition zone in the natural vegetation just to the south of Goyder’s Line between the mallee open scrub to the south and the semi-arid, low woodland to the north.

The park is covered by two major vegetation formations: 35 per cent comprises an open scrub of red mallee (Eucalyptus oleosa) and yorrell (E. gracilis), including some very large specimens. Also present are stands of murray pine (Callitris columellaris) and associated areas of shrubland dominated by hop bush (Dodonaea attentuata), and cassias (Senna spp.)

The remaining 65 per cent of the park comprises low open woodland of native apricot (Pittosporum angustifolium) and false sandalwood (Myoporum platycarpum). The understorey consists of spear-grass (Austrostipa spp.) and ephemeral herbs; wait-a-while (Acacia colletioides) also occurs in this formation.

A small area near the southern boundary of the park and much of the northern part is almost devoid of trees and can be sub-categorised as open grassland 4.

More information: NPWSSA

Total Species Recorded to Date: 109 (non-passerines 44, passerines 65)

Common Species: Galah, Singing Honeyeater, Grey Shrikethrush, Little Raven, Brown Treecreeper, Southern Whiteface

Less Common Species: Cockatiel, Little Eagle, White-winged Fairywren, Striped Honeyeater, Regent Parrot, Yellow Thornbill


References:
 1  Department for Environment and Water. (2019). Protected Areas Information System. Property Summary Report. 30 March 2019. pp. 73-74. 

 2 Government of South Australia. National Parks Act, 1966: Hundreds of Fisher and Ridley—Ridley National Parks Reserve Declared. The South Australian Government Gazette. 24: 1638. (30 May 1968). 

 3 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. (SA). sch 4: 3. 

4 Conservation Parks of the Murraylands (Western Plains) Management Plans. 1983. Department of Environment and Planning, Adelaide, South Australia. 


Updated: 27/07/2021